Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-08-20
IN A TTEMPTED REPLY.

Is Simply luulCIouo. alIeI q Cohoih-
ual growl for months past about the
tariff system, when given plain,
general invitation to discuss it, sig
nally fails to do so, and like Bryan's
deer, draws in its horns. To be can
did, we fail to detect a single argu-
ment worthy Of discussion, in the re
ply. We will glance at three points.
1t says there can be no free trade in
this generation. Then, let the dem
ocratic party, like Rip Van Wrinkle,
sleep until the dawn of the next gen.
Grafton, for it has no other doctrine
over which to wage a warfare. In
abiding to our reference to Henry
Clay and others, the Statesman says:
"a different condition of affairs ex-
list now. Then the great question in
political economy was, whether the
revenue should be raised by direct
taxation, or duties on imports. !"
What a blow to the Statesnoan's ar
gument that the surplus comes from
the peoples pockets So protection
means paying the revenue by duties
on imports THE PEOPLE, THEN,
ARE NOT DIRECTLY TAXED the 5mpo1'
ters pay the bonus Of revenue tareS !!
Intelligent democrats, here is a true
avowal from your leading organ. If
ourrevenue (and most of the expense
of government is paid by revenues)
is raised by protective tariff, so that
direct taxation is unnecessary, why
abolish that system Again it says:
"When the present tariff law was
brought forward in Congress it was
urged expressly that it was Il war
measure, and Mr.. Morrill,, the chair
man OF the Ways and Means Com
mittee in the House, promised that
as soon as the war ceased the protec-
tive policy would be abandoned, but
the gigantic monopolies, engendered
by it, have proved too strong and
that pledge, like many others, has
not been redeemed" So, now, these
revenues have become "war taxes"
Mr.. Morrill's promise has been re-
deemed. In 1866 our receipts from
all sources were $558,032 ,620.06.
Since that time the tariff has been
reduced, and all internal revenue ,ex-
cept from spirits and tobacco, has
been wholly abandoned, and the
amount from the tariff and internal
revenue in 1885, was 1898, 969 ,664.88,
which shows that we have relinquish-
ed an amount nearly equal to all that
is now collected. We suppose the
continual loud barking of the States
man about the "war taxes will even
surpass that of Mr.. Beecher's dog,
which, he said, barked at the hole for
three DAYS after the squirrel was
gone. Protection is not required for
or by manufacturers, solely, Mr..
Statesman, but for the industrial au-
tonomy OF the nation, for the general
welfare OF the whole country. We
never believed in the command "tO
love thy neighbor better than thy
self when amending the tariff. Self
preservation is the first law Of nature,
and to encourage free trade and the
maintenance Of other nations, to the
destruction Of our own. is despicable
and disgustingly un-American.
Name your gigantic monopolies.
Specify them. Give data and figures.
These convince. These can be met
and discussed. We wish no exclu-
sive fayors, and no possible monopo-
ly Of trade, and the protective policy
holds neither ont. 1t deyelopes the
material resources Of North and
South, East and West. The smoke
OF industries at Chattanooga, Lowell,
San Francisco and Wilmington alike
ascends to show the universally Of
this grand system. All places and
all persons are not only permitted,
but invited to enter the race, and yet
the free trade editor Of the Si0teS-
man, like the knight Of the Sorrow
full Countenance, still wages a windy
battle against the wholly imaginary
foes it calls ''monopolies." The South
is to-day giving the doctrine that has
for years clothed it in poverty and
stagnation, a black eye. Virginia
sends a majority of her representa-.
tives to Congress, who believe in and
champion the protective system, and
other Southern States are preparing
to do likewise Why not In Viz
ginia and Kentucky and our own
little State, there are millions Of
acres untouched by the pIow The
same Mr. Morrill,, referred TO, re-
marked IN 1856: "As the Southern